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1  NO  MAN  LIVETH  OR  DIETH  TO  HIMSELf!'  " 

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1  FUNERAL  SERMON 

I*  . 

••1..,. 

PREACHED  AT  WAUKEGAN,  ILLINOIS, 

4. 

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1 

ON  SUNDAY,  MARCH  8,  1850. 

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ON  THE  OCCASION  OF  THE  DEATH  OF'  ^ 

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i^INCHESTEli  HOYT,  ESQ. 

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y’ 

BY 

REV.  A.  CONSTAJSTTINE  BARRY. 

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x_._  .  ■ 

• 

FOR  NONE  or  US  LIVETH  TO  HIMSELF,  AND 

NO  MAN  DIETH  TO  HIMSELF.— Paul. 

! 

1 

1 

1 

1 

PUBLISHED  BY  REQUEST. 

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%  ’A . 

f  ■  .* 

►> 

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V 

KAC.INE: 

ROl/'NDS  &  CO.  PRINTERS, 

“Old  Oaken  Bucket  Offioe.” 

• 

P-  / 

*  •  . “V 

.  1850.'''  . 

"  W.  ■  Jr  1 

NO  MAN  LIVETH  OR  DIETH  TO  HIMSELF. 


A 

FUNERAL  SERMON 


PREACHED  AT  WAUKEGAN,  ILLINOIS, 

ON  SUNDAY,  MARCH  3,  1850. 

ON  THE  OCCASION  OF  THE  DEATH  OF 

E.  WINCHESTER  HOYT,  ESQ. 


BY  REV.  A.  CONSTANTINE  BARRY. 


FOR  NONE  OF  US  LIVETH  TO  HIMSELF,  AND  '1 : 
NO  MAN  DIETH  TO  HIMSELF,— Paul. 


% 


PUBLISHED  BY  RE-QUEST. 


RAC  INE: 


ROUNDS  &  CO,  PRINTERS, 

^Old  Oaken  Bucket  OflBco.” 

. .  \ 


1850. 

LIBRARY  U.  CF !.  IRBANA- 


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i 


OTfiraia  W)  il.’IlVTI  JrTAI' 


‘y 


/ 


DISCOUESE. 


l^or  none  of  us  livetk  to  himself  and  no  man  dieth  to  himself. 

[Romans,  14:  7. 


Each  and  every  human  being  was  created  for  some  purpose,  and 
that  purpose  is  well  expressed  by  the  word.  Usefulness.  Man  never 
was  intended  merely  to  he,  for  then  would  the  end  of  his  creation  be 
attained  by  simply  living;  but  it  was  designed — and  the  evidences  of 
that  design  are  inwrought  with  his  very  nature — that  he  should  do, 
that  he  should  attain,  and  that,  through  his  agency,  the  condition  of 
humanity  should  be  rendered  more  hopeful,  and  something  be  added 
to  the  common  stock  of  real  substantial  good  in  God's  Universal  Fam¬ 
ily.  And  so  certain  as  an  existence  has  been  given  him,  so  certain 
will  the  life  he  lives  have  its  influence  on  the  whole  human  world;  and 
that  influence  will  be  at  work,  and  will  exert  itself  upon  Life’s  great 
Intel  ests,  long  after  his  head  is  pillowed  in  the  grave.  We  know  that 
no  creature,  from  the  seraph  that  stands  forever  in  the  light  of  God’s 
countenance,  down  to  the  insect  that  glitters  only  for  an  hour,  was 
made  without  purpose,  or  has  lived  without  effect.”  Life  has  a  pur¬ 
pose  beyond  itself,  and  comes  to  us  clothed  with  weighty  and  solemn 
responsibilities.  Its  acts,  its  employments,  the  influences  which  shall 
go  out  from  it,  cannot  effect  that  life  alone ;  for  so  true  is  it  that  Hu¬ 
manity  is  our  living  body,  that  whether  one  member  suffer,  all  the 
members^  suffer  with  it,  or  one  member  be  honored,  all  the  members 
rejoice  with  it. 

These  considerations  invest  life  with  a  mighty  importance,  and  call 
upon  us  with  the  impressiveness  and  authority  of  a  voice  from  heaven, 
to  devote  that  life  to  the  great  purpose  for  which  it  was  given ;  that, 
if  it  ^  but  for  an  hour,  we  may  not  have  liv'ed  in  vain. 

This  selfishness  with  which  too  many  wrap  themselves  round,  this 
hardening  of  the  heart  against  the  woes  and  distresses  of  our  fellow- 
men,  this  scanty  and  meagre  benevolence  which  is  confined  to  one’s 
own  farnily,  or  kindred,  or  sect,  what  is  it  all  but  an  out  and  out  rebel¬ 
lion  against  the  supreme  law  of  human  nature.  “  Study  the  system,” 
says  Buckingham,  “  which  you  see  all  around  you,  of  material,  animal, 
^d  national  existence,  in  its  minutest  or  in  its  grandest  portions. — 
Nothing,  you  see,  is  insulated — nothing  existing  for  itself  alone.  Ev- 


4 


FUNERAL  DISCOURSE. 


ery  part  of  creation  bears  perpetually  on  some  other  part,  and  they 
must  subsist  together.  Indeed  the  whole  Universe,  as  far  as  we  have 
penetrated  it,  seems  to  be  a  mighty  and  complex  system  of  mutual 
subserviency.  Do  you  suppose  that  bright  sun  has  been  shining,  now 
many  thousands  of  years,  to  accommodate  us  only  ?  No — it  has  warm¬ 
ed  into  life  and  joy,  innumerable  millions  of  which  we  know  nothing; 
and  it  moves,  also,  to  diffuse  a  wider  influence,  and  to  hold  together 
ihe  unknown  globes  and  systems  of  globes,  which  are  balanced  around 
it.  Descend  as  low  as  you  can  pierce,  through  the  basest  transforma¬ 
tions  of  matter,  living  and  lifeless,  and  you  find  every  thing  has  its  use, 
and  accomplishes  its  purpose.  The  very  refuse,  which  man  casts  out 
and  loathes,  returns  in  all  the  beauty  of  vegetation,  and  brings  him 
sustenance  and  gladness.  The  barren  waste  of  Ocean  itself  is  the 
medium  of  benevolent  communication — its  recesses  teem  with  life,  and 
its  waters  purify  themselves  by  perpetual  motion.  Even  the  eter¬ 
nal  ices  of  the  poles  are  continually  melting  to  supply  the  waste  of 
fluid,  and  accommodate  the  wants  of  other  regions.  Benificient  activ¬ 
ity  is  the  primary  law’  of  creation,  and  inactive  uselessness  the  eternal 
crime  of  human  nature.” 

If  it  were  possible,  we  have  no  right  to  seek  the  advancement  of  our 
own  private,  personal  interests  alone,  to  rest  contented  with  having 
served  ourselves,  and  to  refrain  from  doing  good  to  our  fellow  men. — ‘ 
And  we  are  justified,  on  the  authority  of  the  principles  of  Christianity, 
in  placing  a  low  estimate  on  that  man’s  character,  who,  while  profess¬ 
ing  faith  in  these  principles,  narrows  down  the  desires  of  his  heart,  and 
his  benevolent  efforts,  to  the  limited,  contracted  sphere,  of  a  sordid 
self-interest. 

The  Infinite  Father  in  placing  his  child  in  this  world,  has  made  it 
the  field  of  his  action,  and  has  summed  up  his  duty  in  one  vord, 
“  Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself.”  This  covers  the  whole 
ground  of  moral  obligation.  It  is  a  law  which  knows  nothing  of  world¬ 
ly  policy — nothing  of  geographical  boundaries — nothing  of  party  lines 
— nothing  of  sectarian  divisions: — it  overleaps  them  all,  and  lays  man 
under  obligation  to  recognize  in  every  other  man  a  brother,  and  to  la¬ 
bor  as  earnestly  for  the  promotion  of  that  brother’s  interests  as  he 
would  labor  for  the  promotion  of  his  own.  It  links  him  forever  to 
every  individual  of  his  race,  and  is  continually  urging  it  upon  his  soul, 
that  he  cannot  live  for  himself  alone. 

When  a  fellow  man  has  finished  his  earthly  course,  and  passed  off 
from  this  stage  of  action,  it  is  quite  common  to  ask.  How  did  he  die? 
What  was  the  experience  of  the  last  moments  ?  And  what  w'ere  the 
utterances  of  the  soul  in  the  solemn  hour?  It  is  better  to  ask.  How’ 
did  he  live? — what  was  his  life? — has  he  lived  for  himself  only,  or  for 
others  ?  This  inquiry  comes  up  before  us  to-day,  and  repeats  itself  on 
this  occasion.  In  the  midst  of  a  distinguished  professional  career,  with 
bright  hopes  clustering  around  his  soul,  and  the  pathway  to  distinction 
and  enviable  eminence  opened  up  before  him,  an  esteemed  and  beloved 
friend  and  brother  has  passed  away.  In  this  community  it  is  felt  that 


FUNERAL  DISCOURSE. 


5 


a  life  of  no  ordinary  interest  has  been  blotted  out.  Was  that  life  true 
to  its  grand  purpose?  I  repeat,  did  he  live  for  himself  only,  or  for 
others  ? 

It  is  not  my  purpose  to  eulogize  the  departed  dead.  The  record  of 
a  short  but  useful  life,  of  lofty  aims  and  dignified  effort — the  living 
testimonies  which  have  gone  out  from  his  examples  and  his  labors — the 
embalming  of  his  memory  in  many  hearts — a  community  in  mourning 
and  in  tears ! — these  are  his  fitting  eulogy,  infinitely  beyond  what  human 
learning,  or  language,  or  eloquence  could  pronounce. 

And  yet  T  design  to  speak  of  the  man — not  in  terms  of  mere  lauda¬ 
tion  and  praise — not  as  a  member  of  a  profession,  or  a  party,  or  a  sect, 
but  as  a  man  and  a  Christian.  And  I  would  speak  of  him,  not  because 
I  would  formally  answer  a  demand  of  the  occasion,  or  consult  outward 
appropriateness;  but  that  through  a  consideration  of  his  life  and  char¬ 
acter  a  great  practical  lesson  may  be  developed,  and  sent  home  im¬ 
pressively  upon  the  heart. 

It  is  not  necessary  that  there  should  be  a  long  and  distinguished 
public  career,  that  exalted  stations  be  occupied,  that  high  political  rank 
and  eminence  be  attained,  and  that  an  outward  and  perishable  glory 
gather  down  upon  the  name,  in  order  that  a  man  be  constituted  great, 
in  the  highest,  the  Christian  sense.  He  may  be  eminent  as  a  States¬ 
man,  a  diplomatist,  a  legislator,  an  orator — his  name  from  his  verv 
youth  up  may  have  been  associated  “  with  the  highest  civil  service, 
and  the  loftiest  civil  renown” — he  may  have  been  Minister  and  Sena¬ 
tor,  and  President — and  yet  after  all  he  may  be  very  far  from  being  a 
truly  great  man.  The  pageantry  of  office,  the  honors  of  place  and 
power,  are  not  always  the  reward  of  merit,  nor  often  the  attendants 
upon  true  greatness.  They  reveal  to  us  but  little  of  the  man — but 
little  of  his  actual  life.  The  question  remains  unanswered — has  he 
lived  for  himself  alone,  or  for  others? 

He  of  whom  I  speak,  was  a  Man,  and  there  is  more  in  this  than  to 
say  that  he  was  a  King.  And  though,  had  he  lived,  he  might  never 
have  been  called  to  fill  stations  of  honor  and  trust  in  the  government 
of  this  Republic,  nor  have  been  crowned  with  titles  and  dignities;  yet 
with  that  great  soul  within  him,  and  true  to  the  design  of  his  creation, 
he  would  without  honors,  without  the  aid  of  human  applause,  have 
left  the  impress  of  true  words  and  noble  deeds  on  the  condition  of  his 
times,  and  the  improvement  of  the  age  in  which  he  lived. 

I  do  not  forget  that  our  departed  friend  was  human — that,  there¬ 
fore,  he  had  faults  and  imperfections — that  he  committed  errors  like 
the  rest  of  us,  and  was  not  always  in  the  right.  But  let  the  tomb 
which  encloses  his  earthly  remains,  hide  these  also — let  his  weaknesses 
and  frailties  be  buried  with  him  in  his  grave.  Whatever  might  have 
been  the  number  and  magnitude  of  these,  we  must  all  admit  that  he 
did  not  live  for  himself  alone.  He  loved  his  race, — his  heart  beat  for 
universal  humanity — his  soul  went  out  in  the  spirit  of  fraternal  kind¬ 
ness  to  meet  and  embrace  the  whole  world. 

As  a  husband,  a  brother,  a  friend,  a  citizen,  I  am  not  required  to 


FUNERAL  DISCOURSE. 


speak  of  him — you  all  know  what  was  his  faithfulness  in  these  several 
relations.  But  there  was  that  about  him  and  within  him,  which  did 
not  fully  reveal  itself  to  the  world.  Something  of  it,  it  is  true,  was 
exhibited  in  his  daily  walk,  in  his  upright  deportment,  his  cheerful 
disposition,  his  amiable  conversation,  and  pure  life ;  but  its  fullness  was 
discovered  only  by  those  with  wliom  he  had  communed  in  the  privacy 
of  his  own  home.  The  religious  element  was  largely  developed  in  his 
nature,  and  he  seemed  always  when  leading  in  conversation,  to  choose 
topics  connected  with  the  great  theme  of  religion.  In  all  his  feelings, 
his  aims,  his  desires,  his  convictions,  in  the  homage  of  his  soul  and  its 
pure  and  sincere  worship,  he  was  a  Christian,  and  a  spiritual  child  of 
God.  He  loved  prayer,  and  communion  with  the  Father;  although 
he  caused  no  trumpet  to  be  sounded  before  him,  and  stood  not  up  at 
the  corners  of  the  streets  thanking  God  that  he  was  not  as  other  men. 
And  thus  because  of  his  unaffected  piety,  his  deep  religious  feeling, 
his  genuine  goodness  of  heart,  his  warm  and  ever  active  benevolence, 
he  lived  not  for  himself  alone,  but  was  enabled  to  glorify  God,  and  do 
<>ood  to  his  fellow  men. 

In  religious  faith  our  departed  brother  was  an  Universalist.  And 
to  a  very  considerable  extent,  as  is  probable,  this  faith,  the  views  early 
adopted  and  cherished  by  him,  the  sentiments  he  entertained,  and  the 
great  doctrines  which  entered  into  and  formed  his  creed,  gave  shape 
and  direction  to  his  character  and  life.  He  endeavored  to  live  them 
in  all  his  dealings  and  transactions,  to  be  governed  by  the  spirit  of  them 
in  his  intercourse  with  men.  It  is  knowm  to  you  all  how  far  he  suc¬ 
ceeded,  and  what  was  the  measure  of  perfection  to  which  he  attained. 

Prominent  in  his  belief  was  the  Fatherhood  of  God.  He  believed 
that  the  Creator  sustains  the  relation  of  Father  to  every  human  being, 
and  that  he  reigns  and  governs  as  a  Father.  To  him  Christianity 
clearly  taught  this  great  truth,  and  he  viewed  it  as  coming  to  every 
human  being,  however  defiled  and  ruined  by  sin,  and  bidding  him 
pray,  “  Our  Father  who  art  in  Heaven.”  To  the  mourner  in  his  grief, 
the  weak  amid  his  temptations,  the  sinner  seeking  the  pardon  of  his 
sins,  the  lananao-e  of  Jesus  Christ  addressed  itself,  “After  this  manner 
pray  ye.  Our  Father  who  art  in  Heaven.”  He  believed  that  it  was 
one  great  object  of  the  mission  of  Immanuel,  to  make  known  the  Fath¬ 
er,  or  to  reveal  the  peculiar  relation  which  exists  between  the  Infinite 
God  and  the  creature  man,  it  being  that  of  parent  and  child.  This  he 
did,  not  only  in  words,  but  in  his  own  person.  Not  in  w'hat  he  taught 
merely,  but  in  w^hat  he  did,  in  what  he  was,  do  we  find  the  revelation 
of  the  Father. 

It  was  indeed  the  firm  belief  of  our  brother,  that  the  Fatherhood 
OF  God  is  the  great  fundamental  tenet  of  all  religion — that  the  highest 
aim  in  the  mission  of  Christ  was  to  make  knowuu  the  doctrine  of  the 
Divine  Paternity,  or  to  reveal  the  Father.  In  this  truth  centered  every 
motive  to  a  religious  life,  every  deep  emotion  of  religious  trust,  every 
<rlorious  anticipation  of  faith.  With  him  it  was  the  groundwork,  so  to 
«peak,  of  all  Christian  faith  and  hope — the  heart  of  all  religious  doc- 


FUNERAL  DISCOURSE. 


i 


wine — the  mainspring  of  all  religious  practice.  It  is  indeed  a  blessed 
truth!  When  gloom  like  that  which  gathered  down  upon  Calvary  has 
fallen  upon  the  spirit,  when  we  have  become  weary  and  faint  beneath 
our  burden  of  cares  and  sorrows,  tenderly  does  it  call  unto  us  with  a 
sweet  voice,  like  the  voice  of  Jesus  on  the  Cross.  It  wins  our  confi¬ 
dence,  softens  and  subdues  our  hearts,  and  all  sinful  and  defiled  as  we 
are,  bows  down  our  souls  in  penitence,  and  brings  us  reconciled  before 
the  Father. 

This  truth — the  Fatherhood  of  God — we  would  not  barter  for  all 
this  world  has  to  bestow.  No  opposition,  no  frowns,  no  unfaithfulness 
of  friends,  no  earthly  disgrace,  shall  cause  us  to  relinquish  our  hold 
upon  it.  We  prize  it  for  the  light  it  sheds  upon  our  pathway,  for  the 
pe^Lce  it  inspires  in  the  soul,  for  its  sustaining  and  sanctifying  power, 
but  above  all  for  its  depth  of  consolation.  Earth  has  no  sorrow  that 
it  cannot  heal — the  soul  no  anguish  that  it  cannot  remove  1 

The  views  of  our  brother  with  reference  to  the  Future  Life  were,  to 
some  extent,  peculiar.  He  was  one  of  the  few  your  speaker  has  found 
to  agree  with  him  in  opinion  and  belief  on  this  subject.  This  we  used 
frequently  to  converse  upon,  and  with  mutual  interest  and  satisfaction. 

It  was  a  favorite  theme  with  us  both,  and  in  pursuing  it  each  revealed 
his  mind  to  the  other,  and  had  his  faith  strengthened  and  confirmed. 

The  views  to  which  I  have  alluded,  I  purpose  laying  before  you  in 
as  brief  manner  as  may  be ;  remarking,  in  conclusion  what  was  their 
operation  and  effect  on  the  mind  of  our  absent  friend — absent  not  lost. 
And  you  will  pardon  me  for  speaking  of  them,  in  the  first  instance,  as 
mine  own,  as  thereby  I  can  more  fully  and  understandingly  set  them 
forth. 

It  is  to  the  yearning  hopes  and  desires  of  the  human  heart  that  the 
Gospel  addresses  itself  when  it  speaks  of  a  life  to  come.  There  is 
with  man  a  “  secret  dread — an  inward  horror  of  falling  into  nought” 
God  has  implanted  deep  within  his  nature  longings  after  that  whicii 
lies  beyond  the  shadowy  vista  of  time — a  better  world,  and  a  more 
extended  sphere  of  action.  It  is  thus  that  he  has  pointed  to  an  here¬ 
after,  and  intimated  Eternity  to  man. 

But  more  plainly — more  gloriously  has  He  revealed  the  destiny  of 
the  struggling,  god-like  human  soul,  through  the  mission  of  Him  wh(» 
i.s  the  Resurrection  and  the  Life.  He  has  torn  awa}’^  the  veil  that  hung 
so  darkly  between  us  and  the  unknown  future,  and  poured  a  flood-tide 
of  light  through  the  rent  sepulchre.  To  die,  is  to  live  on,  as  though 
the  breath  failed  not — as  though  the  heart  ceased  not  to  beat.  So  tin* 
Gospel  teaches — so  we  are  commanded  to  believe.  Death  does  not  * 
end  our  being — it  does  not  destroy  the  inhabitant  of  this  earthly 
house — it  is  but  ‘a  kind  and  gentle  servant’  who  leads  us  through  the 
gates  of  the  grave  to  a  brighter  inheritance,  and  a  better  land. 

The  subject  of  the  future  life  is  rarely  presented  in  an  attractive 
form,  and  at  the  same  time  so  as  to  have  a  practical  bearing — so  as  to 
present  motives  adapted  to  overcome  the  temptations,  and  support  the 
trials  of  the  present  world. 


8 


FUNERAL  DISCOURSE. 


It  is  known  that  we  as  a  people,  believe  in  the  final  salvation  of  our 
entire  race,  by  which  we  understand  their  deliverance  from  sin — their 
redemption  from  the  bondage  of  evil.  In  this  particular  we  are  all 
agreed,  though  on  many  minor  points  there  is  a  great  diversity  of 
opinion.  This  will  always  be  the  case  where  the  mind  is  untrammelled 
—where  each  individual  is  left  free  to  decide  in  his  own  mind  what  is 
truth,  and  to  reject  what  he  conceives  to  be  error,  responsible  only  to 
(rod,  and  not  to  any  set  of  men. 

I  believe  firmly  and  with  all  my  heart,  the  doctrine  of  Universal  Sal¬ 
vation,  not  only  because  of  its  comforting  and  sustaining  power,  but 
because  I  read  its  proofs  every  where  around  me,  and  find  it  clearly 
brought  to  my  mind  in  God’s  written  revelation.  Its  opposite  I  cannot 
iielieve.  My  soul  abhors  it  as  an  embodiment  of  cruelty  and  revenge. 

1  once  believed  it  in  my  blindness,  but  have  now  cast  it  away  and 
asked  pardon  of  God  for  having  thought  so  meanly  of  his  character. 

But  in  believing  that  the  great  heart  of  humanity  will  finally  be  pu¬ 
rified,  and  attuned  to  harmony  with  the  nature  of  the  Infinite  Father, 
vour  speaker  by  no  means  believes  that  any  will  be  saved  from  just 
punishment — that  any  will  be  set  free  from  the  consequences  of  their 
sins.  It  is  an  operating  principle  in  God’s  government,  as  eternal  and 
immutable  as  himself,  that,  “  He  that  doeth  wrong  shall  receive  for  the 
wrong  that  he  hath  done,” — and  in  assurance  of  the  non-violation  of 
this  principle.  He  who  cannot  lie  has  solemnly  declared,  that  He  “will 
by  no  means  clear  the  guilty.” 

I  not  only  believe  that  God  will  render  to  every  man  according  to 
liis  works,  but  further  that  this  is  the  only  state  of  retribution — that 
as  sin  is  committed  here,  so  its  punishment  is  received  here ;  and  that 
as  sin  is  limited  to  this  state,  so  also  are  its  consequences  and  its  pen¬ 
alties. 

i  make  this  as  a  simple  statement  of  my  belief,  without  giving  the 
proof  upon  which  that  belief  is  founded;  and  I  make  it  that  I  may 
not  be  mis-apprehended,  as  I  proceed  more  directly  to  the  subject  in 

hand. 

Strictly  speaking,  then,  I  believe  this  to  be  the  only  state  of  retri¬ 
bution.  And  yet  I  believe  in  addition  to  this,  that  our  present  acts, 
the  exercise  or  non-exercise  of  the  high  powers  God  has  conferred  on 
us,  will  have  a  bearing  on  the  life  to  come,  will  exalt  us  or  sink  us  in 
the  scale  of  future  progress  and  future  happiness.  Thus  while  the 
subject  of  the  future  life  has  nothing  in  it  to  terrify  and  distract  the 
mind,  it  is  at  the  same  time  fraught  with  deep  and  solemn  interest, 
*  and  is  calculated  to  awake  within  us  a  deeper  and  truer  sense  of  our 
responsibilities . 

That  there  is  an  intimate  connection  between  the  present  and  the 
future  state,  seems  to  me  quite  clear.  That  men,  aside  from  the  ab¬ 
sence  of  animal  appetite  and  passion,  will  be  the  same  beings — will 
still  be  men,  appears  equally  evident.  It  is  true  our  Lord  has  said, 
that  in  the  resurrection  they  neither  marry  nor  are  given  in  marriage ; 
but  are  as  the  angels  of  God.  “This  change  in  our  condition,  how- 


FUNERAL  DISCOURSE. 


a 


ever,  results  as  we  may  well  suppose,  from  our  freedom  from  these 
material  bodies  and  the  passions  belonging  to  the  same ;  and  the  lan¬ 
guage  of  our  Saviour  is  only  declaration  of  this  fact — that  in  the  res¬ 
urrection  every  thing  of  an  earthly  nature  will  be  left  behind.  He 
certainly  did  not  intend  to  say  that  we  would  be  transformed  into  a 
superior  order  of  spirits — that  we  would  become  angels ;  ‘  for,  if  this 
were  to  be  the  case,  there  would  be  no  propriety  in  saying  that  we 
would  be  like  them.’ 

This  is  an  important  point  which  is  now'  presented  for  our  conside¬ 
ration,  and  one  which  has  seldom  received  attention.  It  is  supposed 
by  many  that  in  the  resurrection,  our  whole  natures  are  somehow  to 
undergo  a  radical  change,  and  that  in  some  mysterious  manner  God 
will  at  once  force  infinite  knowledge  and  holiness  into  our  minds,  and 
place  the  whole  human  family,  instantly',  and  without  any  effort  of  their 
own,  on  an  equality  with  the  archangel  wdio  stands  on  the  highest  step 
of  His  throne.  Nothing  can  be  more  absurd  than  this  supposition- — 
no,  not  even  the  supposition  that  men  enter  upon  the  future  state  wdth 
all  their  animal  appetites  and  passions,  to  marry, — if  this  be  the  case, 
— and  be  given  in  marriage. 

I  believe  that  when  we  stand  upon  the  shores  of  the  Eternal  world, 
it  will  be  with  natures  like  these  we  now  possess,  save  that  they  will 
be  set  free  from  the  bondage  of  sin  and  corruption;  and  that  we  will 
start  forward  in  an  endless  progress,  from  the  precise  point  in  knowl¬ 
edge  and  goodness  at  which  we  had  arrived  here.  So  intimate,  do  1 
believe,  will  be  the  connexion  between  the  future  life  and  the  present. 
•‘The  future  will  in  fact,  be  the  continuation  of  the  present.  It  will 
be  the  further  evolution  of  the  energies  of  this;  the  fruit  of  what  is 
now  sown;  the  maturity  of  what  is  now  just  appearing;  the  consum¬ 
mation  of  what  is  now  imperfect.” 

It  is  contrary  to  all  we  know  of  the  economy^  of  God — to  the  laws 
which  govern  our  intellectual  and  moral  natures,  to  suppose  that  he 
who  has  neglected  the  book  of  knowledge  for  this  world’s  baubles — 
who  has  trampled  virtue  under  his  feet,  and  laughed  at  the  idea  of 
personal  holiness,  is  at  death  to  be  elevated  at  once  to  the  loftiest 
throne  of  glory — and  to  the  height  attained  by  Newton,  and  Franklin, 
and  the  martyred  hosts  of  the  Church  of  Christ.  No,  no,  he  must 
reach  this  height,  as  he  only  can,  by  the  exercise  of  the  high  powers 
of  the  soul — by  intellectual  and  moral  exertion.  God  cannot  at  once 
by  any  act  of  His,  put  him  in  possession  of  all  knowledge  and  all  holi¬ 
ness — he  must  obtain  them  there  as  he  would  here — by  effort;  and  if 
he  has  wasted  and  misemployed  his  time  here,  he  must  be  content  to 
start  there  at  the  foot  of  the  hill. 

One  other  consideration  forces  itself  upon  the  attention.  The  de¬ 
gree  of  happiness  enjoyed  by  man  in  this  present  life,  aside  from  that 
wliich  is  physical,  depends  upon  the  exercise  and  cultivation  of  his  in¬ 
tellectual  and  moral  powers.  He  who  has  paid  due  attention  to  this, 
is  capable  of  receiving  and  enjoying  a  greater  amount  of  happiness. 
Uian  he  who  has  suffered  the  garden  of  his  mind  to  run  to  waste,  or 


10 


FUITEBAI.  DISCOURSE. 


who  has  abused  and  wronged  the  higher  natui’e  within  him.  So  will 
it  be  in  the  future  world.  Each  and  every  individual  will  be  happy 
in  proportion  to  the  amount  of  knowledge  and  goodness  he  possesses. 
Hence  the  greater  the  developemeut  of  his  intellectual  and  moral  na¬ 
ture  here,  the  greater  will  be  the  amount  of  happiness  he  will  receive 
and  enjoy  as  he  enters  upon  his  immortal  destiny.  There  is,  says  the 
apostle,  ‘one  glory  of  the  sun,  and  another  glory  of  the  moon,  and  an¬ 
other  glory  of  the  stars ;  for  one  star  differeth  from  another  star  in 
glory.  So  also  will  it  be  at  the  resurrection  of  the  dead.’ 

However  low  down  in  the  scale  any  mind,  in  consequence  of  neg¬ 
lect  and  mis-improvement,  may  be  compelled  to  commence  its  eternal 
progress,  it  will  gradually  ascend — new  energies  will  be  imparted  to 
it — there  will  be  no  obstacles,  no  impediment  in  its  way,  and  it  shall 
continue  to  mount  up  on  wings  as  eagles,  and  to  drink  in  knowledge 
and  bliss  from  the  throne  of  God. 

We  now  call  attention  to  a  passage  from  the  inspired  penman  which 
may  both  illustrate  and  find  an  illustration.  “  And  I  heard  a  voice 
from  Heaven,  saying  unto  me.  Write,  Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die 
in  the  Lord  from  henceforth;  Yea,  saith  the  Spirit,  that  they  may  rest 
from  their  labors;  and  their  works  do  follow  them.” — Rev.  14:  13. — 
This  lanouao-e  of  the  Revelator  would  seem  to  confirm  the  view  we 

O  O 

have  taken  of  our  subject — that  our  present  efforts,  our  present  acts, 
will  have  a  hearing'  on  the  future  life — that  the  degree  of  knowledge 
and  virtue  we  have  here  obtained,  will  be  the  point  from  which  we 
begin  our  progress  hereafter.  In  this  sense  the  works  of  the  wise  and 
the  good — the  works  of  the  humble,  devoted  followers  of  the  Lamb, 
will  most  emphatically  follow  them,  and  procure  for  them  a  brighter 
crown,  and  a  loftier  station. 

Others  may  be  as  free  from  the  dominion  of  animal  passion — may 
be  as  pure  in  nature — for  all  will  be  made  alive  in  Christ — but  they 
cannot  be  placed  on  an  equality  in  respect  to  the  degree  of  happiness, 
with  the  truly  good  and  great,  who  have  toiled  and  struggled  with  un¬ 
fainting  hearts.  All  will  be  happy — perfectly  happy,  but  only  in  pro¬ 
portion  to  their  capability  of  receiving  and  enjoying  happiness.  ‘  Ev¬ 
ery  man  in  his  own  order,’  or  according  to  the  developement  of  his 
superior  nature .  The  very  point  in  knowledge,  and  virtue,  and  holi¬ 
ness,  at  which  he  has  arrived  in  this  life,  will  be  the  point  from  which 
he  will  start  in  the  future  upon  his  journey  of  endless  ages. 

We  are  not  then  barely  living  and  acting  for  the  present.  As  our 
lives  and  conduct  to-day  have  a  bearing  on  our  condition  to-morrow, 
so  our  wdiole  acts  and  eflforts — our  course  of  living,  and  the  employ¬ 
ment  of  our  minds  will  tell  with  all  their  power  upon  our  immortal 
interests.  Not  that  they  will  sink  some  to  infinite  wo,  while  they  raise 
others  to  infinite  enjoyment;  but  that  they  will  determine  the  position 
in  the  scale  of  endless  progress  which  each  one  must  occupy. 

Hoav  seriously  and  solemnly  important  is  this  consideration !  How 
does  it  rebuke  our  contentions,  and  strifes,  and  envyings — our  devotion 
to  worldly  pursuits,  and  our  worship  of  mammon — our  selfishness,  ex- 


F^NKRAL  DISCOURSE. 


11 


<Cilu*iveDes§  and  bigotry!  What  importance  does  it  attach  to  the 
present  life — ‘the  opening  of  a  boundless  career — the  first  field  on 
which  our  powers  are  to  try  themselves,  and  our  actions  are  to  be 
tried;  and  where  our  struggles  and  efforts,  our  joys  and  our  affections 
are  all  entwined  with  eternal  relations,  and  invested  with  a  value  de¬ 
rived  from  the  deep  treasures  of  Eternity/ 

1  have  said  that  I  do  not  believe  the  future  state  to  be  one  of  ret¬ 
ribution  .  I  will  add  that  I  do  not  believe  it  will  be  one  of  reward. — 
When  God  says  that  the  righteous  shall  be  recompensed  in  the  earth, 
much  more  the  wicked  and  the  sinner,  it  is  not  for  me  to  deny  it. — 
Besides,  no  intimations  are  given  of  the  existence  of  sin  and  misery 
after  the  resurrection.  On  the  contrary  it  is  expressly  declared  that 
we  who  bear  the  image  of  the  earthly  shall  also  bear  the  image  of  the 
heavenly — that  there  shall  be  no  more  death,  neither  sorrow  nor  cry¬ 
ing,  neither  shall  there  be  any  more  pain.  If  these  assurances  are 
worth  any  thing — if  there  is  any  truth  in  them — if  the  gospel  is  not 
all  HU  imposition  and  a  falsehood,  then  universal  humanity  shall  be 
changed,  purified,  delivered  from  the  bondage  of  corruption,  and  made 
free  as  the  Sons  of  God. 

But  this  by  no  means  pre-supposes  that  he  who  has  come  up  from 
the  lowest  depths  of  vice  and  punishment,  and  whose  spiritual  nature 
through  life  has  been  wronged  and  outraged,  is  to  take  a  place  by  the 
side  of  him  whose  whole  body  and  soul  had  been  rendered  a  holy  sac- 
rafice  unto  the  living  God, — “  that  the  selfish,  solitary,  and  indolent 
speculatist;  the  griping,  hoarding,  narrow-minded  child  of  earth;  the 
vain,  proud,  self-important  man  of  conssequence ;  is  to  be  placed  on 
an  equality  with  respect  to  knowledge,  and.  goodness,  and  happiness, 
witli  the  man  who  has  meekly  fulfilled  the  duties  of  his  station,  and 
with  unremitted  and  unwearied  care,  has  exerted  his  talent  to  correct 
his  own  disposition,  and  to  promote  the  good  of  others.”  He  may  be 
as  free  from  sin,  but  he  cannot  occupy  a  station  for  which  his  earthly 
habits  and  dispositions  have  unfitted  him. 

I  may  be  allowed  to  remark  in  conclusion  that  the  future  life  will 
be  unattended  by  the  evils  of  this.  It  will  be  free  from  sickness,  pain 
and  death — free  from  discord,  wrath  and  strife .  Love,  the  nature  and 
essence  of  God,  will  be  all  in  all — it  will  be  the  ruling,  governing  prin¬ 
ciple  in  every  heart,  uniting  us  forever  to  the  Father  and  to  each  oth¬ 
er.  ‘  All  there  will  be  exercise — exercise  of  our  faculties  in  the  acqui¬ 
sition  of  knowledge,  of  our  affections  in  the  love  of  God’s  creatures, 
of  our  powers  in  the  communication  of  his  benefits.” 

The  views  thus  hastily  and  imperfectly  advanced  were  held  in  much 
assurance  by  our  departed  friend.  He  gave  tliem  much  prominence 
in  his  religious  faith,  and  they  no  doubt  exerted  a  controlling  influence 
over  his  life.  He  lived  continually  in  view  of  a  higher  and  better  state 
of  existence,  though  one  intimately  connected  with  the  present,  as  re¬ 
gards  the  character  and  the  measure  of  enjoyment  of  those  who  enter 
upon  it.  These  views  not  only  gave  a  value  and  exceeding  great  im¬ 
portance  to  the  present  life,  but  made  the  future  attractive  and  glori- 


1  2  FUNERAL  DISCOURSE. 

ous,  leaving  nothing  to  fear  from  death  which  has  been  made  so  terr^ 
ble .  There  were  no  doubts,  no  fears,  no  gloomy  apprehensions  in  the 
mind  of  our  brother.  Though  the  hour  of  his  departure  came  sud¬ 
denly,  he  was  found  prepared — he  was  calm,  hopeful,  and  resigned  to 
the  last, — his  faith  grew  stronger,  and  his  hopes  brighter  as  he  drew 
nearer  the  grav'e,  and  his  death  was  that  of  the  Christian,  with  whom 
to  die,  is  to  go  home. 

The  Church  of  Christian  believers  with  which  our  brother  was  con¬ 
nected,  have  sustained  a  great  loss.  He  was  one  of  its  brightest  or¬ 
naments,  its  strongest  and  most  ardent  supporters  and  advocates,  the 
most  excellent  living  illustration  of  the  goodness  and  purity  of  its 
faith.  Long  will  the  place  he  tilled  be  left  vacant,  and  long  will  our 
Zion  have  cause  to  mourn  his  departure.  And  yet  even  his  last  mo¬ 
ments  and  his  death  were  full  of  instruction — for  as  he  did  not  live  to 
himself,  so  neither  did  he  die  to  himself  There  comes  a  voice  from  his 
bed  of  sickness,  and  from  the  place  of  his  last  sleep,  calling  us  to 
greater  diligence  in  the  work  before  us,  a  more  entire  consecration  of 
our  powers  and  faculties  to  God  and  the  cause  of  religion.  May  this 
voice  not  come  to  us  in  vain,  but  may  we  so  listen  to  and  obey  it,  as 
that  living  the  life  of  the  righteous,  our  last  end  may  be  like  his. 


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